Below you'll see everything we could locate for your search of “Florida”
By Prudhvi Vulchi, Amit Levy and Tripti Vashisth A three-year commercial grove study evaluated plant growth regulators (PGRs) and oxytetracycline (OTC) in HLB-affected Valencia trees. The results suggest that these practices help HLB-affected trees by two distinct mechanisms. PGRs mainly supported tree growth and productivity by reducing callose accumulation and improving growth-promoting hormone levels in leaves. OTC reduced Candidatus Liberibacter …
Cold-hardy citrus producers are about a month away from harvesting this year’s crop. A lot can happen during that time. What is beyond the grower’s control is what most concerns Lindy Savelle, executive director of the Georgia Citrus Association and co-owner of JoNina Farm in Ochlocknee, Georgia. “We personally experienced last year a 40-year hailstorm. So that’s always a possibility …
During a recent webinar, Jude Grosser, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences professor of plant cell genetics, presented a three-legged stool approach to achieving sustainability in citrus production. Those legs consist of: For the first two legs, Grosser said enhanced tolerance to HLB is a primary goal, along with improving yield and juice quality. During the presentation, …
The October issue of Specialty Crop Grower magazine features citrus research updates, industry developments and more. Coverage ranges from a grapefruit disorder to citrus breeding efforts to rebuilding Florida’s production. The Citrus Industry section, begins on page 22 with “Unraveling the greasy-green mystery in Florida grapefruit,” by Megan M. Dewdney, Eva L. Mulandesa and Mark A. Ritenour. University of Florida …
Cold-hardy citrus producers are yearning for some cooler weather. It would not only provide some relief from the warm temperatures being experienced across North Florida, South Georgia and South Alabama, cooler temperatures will aid in color development in this year’s fruit, among other benefits. Mary Sutton, University of Georgia (UGA) assistant professor and citrus Extension specialist, discussed the impact of …
By Tripti Vashisth, Mary Sutton and Taylor Livingston Author’s note: This Tip of the Week applies to HLB-affected sweet oranges in Florida. Preharvest fruit drop remains a major concern for HLB-affected sweet oranges. Research shows that both gibberellic acid (GA) and 2,4-D can help reduce fruit drop, but the combination of GA and 2,4-D provides the greatest reduction. In a …
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a new email subscription feature to help pesticide users quickly receive updates from the Bulletins Live! Two system. The updates will include notifications about new Pesticide Use Limitation Areas (PULAs) and changes to existing PULAs. EPA developed this feature in response to requests from pesticide users who asked for better access to Bulletins …
Three University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences researchers recently authored an article explaining how to manage alternate bearing in citrus with fruit thinning. Alternate bearing is the tendency for trees to carry a heavy crop one year, followed by a season of very little fruit. The authors are Masood Jan and Muhammad Shahid with the North Florida …
A new initiative aims to strengthen the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences’ (UF/IFAS) ability to respond rapidly when a new invasive pest or plant disease threatens. Edward “Gilly” Evans, director of the UF/IFAS Tropical Research and Education Center (TREC), launched the Challenge 250 initiative. Named in recognition of the nation’s 250th anniversary, it aims to raise …
The Wedgworth Leadership Institute for Agriculture and Natural Resources (WLIANR) has selected 30 Florida participants for Class XIII of its two-year leadership development program. The program is designed for emerging agriculture and natural resources professionals who aspire to greater leadership responsibilities in the private and/or public sectors. The program will begin in November and include 11 seminars spanning 55 days. …
Despite cancer-related ills in recent years, citrus breeder Fred Gmitter continued his work passion, which included development of trees that were more tolerant of or resistant to HLB. “That was our mission,” said Jude Grosser, his fellow citrus breeder at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Citrus Research and Education Center. Grosser said Gmitter continued …
Editing a plant’s genes is only half the battle. Before a new, improved trait can ever reach a farmer’s field, scientists must be able to grow a whole plant from just a few edited cells. That process can be slow, unreliable and, for some plant species, impossible. A new study describes a way to speed up that bottleneck across crops, …
By Christopher Vincent and Rashmi Kumari Florida summers come with intense sunlight, high temperatures and frequent rain. Just as people use sunscreen to protect exposed skin from intense sunlight, plants can benefit from a protective coating on exposed leaf and fruit surfaces. One way to provide this protection is by spraying a kaolin clay particle film on the tree. Although …
The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) hosted a field day in Jason Griffin’s Polk County grove in mid-September. Griffin has been a long-time collaborator with the university’s citrus breeding program. The event featured many of the later-season OLL varieties developed by Jude Grosser, UF/IFAS professor of plant cell genetics. The OLL line of later-maturing varieties …
By Brenda Eubanks Burnette I was driving past the Latt Maxcy Corporation recently and found myself remembering when I first met Pat and Patricia Wilson. Pat carried a quiet authority — steady and observant, with a twinkle in his eyes. But the person who truly commanded the room was his petite wife, Patricia. Her energy and determination were unmistakable, and …
According to a September 2026 Rabobank report, the current environment for Brazilian orange juice (OJ) remains challenging for both farmers and the industry, with prices still low but starting to show some slightly positive signs. It reported that spot orange prices for the industry increased from BRL 25/box (approximately $4.30/box in U.S. dollars) in May to BRL 31/box (approximately $6.03/box …
Water, education of politicians and consumers, California’s next governor and farm succession were among citrus-related topics addressed recently by Jacob Villagomez, director of governmental affairs for California Citrus Mutual. WATER Water remains one of the industry’s biggest concerns, according to Villagomez. He said California’s increasingly intense heat can stress citrus trees, contribute to leaf curling, cause sunburn-related scarring and sometimes …
By Peter Chaires This fall offers Florida citrus growers several opportunities to see the latest research, evaluate new varieties and connect with researchers in the field. From open houses and variety displays to research tours and field days, these events provide a firsthand look at work that could shape the future of the citrus industry. IRREC OPEN HOUSE The University …
Chilli thrips’ damage in Florida citrus under protective screen (CUPS) should motivate growers to manage weeds more effectively. Lauren Diepenbrock, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) associate professor and entomologist, shared that advice during this year’s Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo in Fort Myers, Florida. Diepenbrock said chilli thrips feed on citrus trees but they also …
The Citrus Research and Field Trial (CRAFT) Foundation recently announced the addition of a royalty reimbursement component to Cycle Eight, along with other updates. GROWER ASSISTANCE The royalty reimbursement provides growers with additional assistance to help offset the cost of planting eligible citrus trees and utilizing eligible biological delivery technologies that require a royalty payment. This new opportunity expands on …
